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Rhizotomy for Muscular Back Pain

Rhizotomy is a common treatment used to help people relieve muscular back pain. It is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate back pain by destroying nerves in problem areas.

  1. Function

    • The main function of rhizotomy is to eliminate pain in patients who experience back problems due to the degeneration of their facet joints. Facet joints are joints in between two vertebrae in a person's back. If these joints begin to deteriorate, tremendous back pain can result.

    Procedure

    • A patient undergoing rhizotomy for muscular back pain will have the nerves in her back burned by radio frequency current. This will eliminate back pain.

    Risks

    • Risks for a patient undergoing rhizotomy include infections and pain in the areas of her back where the procedure is performed. Though serious, these risks are quite rare.

    Non-invasive

    • Although rhizotomy is considered surgery, it is "non-invasive" because there is no actual incision into the skin during the procedure. The radio waves do all of the work from outside the body.

    Other uses

    • In addition to helping relieve muscular back pain, rhizotomy can be used to alleviate neck pain and lumbar pain.

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